Home Insurance in Bear Lake County, Idaho
Homes in Bear Lake County carry a median value of $275,000 - 34% lower than the Idaho median.
The typical home in Bear Lake County was built around 1974. Older homes can cost more to insure or rebuild because of aging wiring, roofing and plumbing. About 40% of homes were built before 1960, about 23 points above Idaho's 17%.
In Bear Lake County, the housing stock is 94% single-family homes, 1% apartments in buildings with 5+ units and 4% mobile or manufactured homes. Mobile and manufactured homes typically need a manufactured-home (HO-7) policy rather than a standard homeowners policy.
About 56% of owner-occupied homes in Bear Lake County have a mortgage. Lenders require hazard (homeowners) insurance on any home carrying a mortgage.
The vacancy rate is 43%; vacant or unoccupied homes typically need a different coverage form than an owner-occupied policy. About 90% of occupied homes in Bear Lake County are owner-occupied.
Homes heated with propane and wood can carry added fire risk. Fuel-tank leaks and spills are often excluded from standard homeowners policies. In Bear Lake County, 44% of homes are primarily heated with natural gas.
The top hazards for Bear Lake County, per FEMA's National Risk Index, are wildfire (Relatively Low), earthquake (Relatively Low) and winter weather (Relatively Low). Standard homeowners policies exclude earthquake, so separate coverage is usually needed.
As of September 2026, Bear Lake County has 1 active NFIP flood insurance policy. Standard homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage, so flood coverage needs a separate NFIP or private flood policy.
In Idaho, the statewide average premium for a standard HO-3 homeowners policy is $1,135 per year (NAIC, 2023 data).
Key figures
| Median home value | $275,000 |
|---|---|
| Median year built | 1974 |
| Owner-occupied share | 90% |
| Share of owner-occupied homes with a mortgage | 56% |
| Top hazards (FEMA National Risk Index) | Wildfire (Relatively Low), Earthquake (Relatively Low), Winter Weather (Relatively Low) |
| Active NFIP flood policies (county) | 1 |
| Home insurance premium | $1,135 - statewide average (NAIC, 2023 data) |
Towns and cities
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau Gazetteer Files (2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates (2024)
- FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025)
- FEMA OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Policies v3 (2026)
- NAIC Dwelling Fire, Homeowners Owner-Occupied, and Homeowners Tenant and Condominium/Cooperative Unit Owners Insurance: Data for 2023 (published 2026) (2023)